relational database

American  

noun

1. an electronic database comprising multiple files of related information, usually stored in tables of rows (records) and columns (fields), and allowing a link to be established between separate files that have a matching field, as a column of invoice numbers, so that the two files can be queried simultaneously by the user.

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relational database Scientific  

/ rĭ-lā′shə-nəl /

1. A database system in which any field can be a component of more than one of the database's tables.

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Etymology

Origin of relational database

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

In 1979, Oracle introduced the first commercial relational database, External link which essentially organizes and manages data sets, calling it Version 2 External link because he didn’t think anyone would buy a Version 1.

From Barron's • Oct. 10, 2025

I don’t really think people need to hope that blockchain is relevant to them any more than at some point someone said, “Hey, how’s the relational database good for me?”

From The Verge • Oct. 29, 2019

Peters says that PostGIS, an extension that adds geospatial capabilities to the open-source database system PostgreSQL, “basically turns a relational database into a full-blown GIS”.

From Nature • Jun. 4, 2018

“A private corporation would have that information literally at their fingertips because they have relational databases to store it all. A relational database means you can search by any criteria you want.”

From Slate • Mar. 18, 2016

And that's because of this relational database thing.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements